Since Christopher Columbus ran aground on Cuban shores and began colonization in 1492, the country has faced an incessant struggle to regain its independence. While it eventually gained freedom on a National scale on January 1st, 1959, some Cubans today are still attempting to establish autonomy on an individual level. At any point throughout the Cuban Revolution, success in achieving independence has had a close relationship with the power taken from and empowerment of the People.
As Spanish colonizers and African slaves settled throughout Cuba, they began to separate into distinct groups. From privileged peninsulares to creoles of varying social status and AfroCubans, each group developed its own idea of what it meant to be Cuban. While peninsualres were loyal to Spain, others experienced a growing sense of Nationalism that has become a core value to Cuban culture. This strong Nationalism is critical to understanding how Cubans found empowerment.
The Spanish occupation and rule of Cuba instilled a deep feeling of powerlessness across the country, slowly building tinder to light the fight for independence. Blatant oppression and high taxation crippled Cubans, until the burden of powerlessness was too much for the People to bear. It pushed them to fight back. Without much to lose and everything to gain, Cuba was just short of independence when the United States joined in, ending the Spanish-American War and placing Cuba in a state of "Quasi-Independence". The once-empowered Cubans were tossed back into powerlessness, experiencing two US military occupations in 1906 and 1917.
The need to gain autonomy continued manifesting with each oppressive dictator in power, from Gerardo Machado y Morales (1925-1933) to Carlos Manuel de Céspedes in 1933, and eventually Fulgencio Batista during both his Presidency and rise as Dictator in 1952. However, Fidel Castro and his band of rebels demolished any hope of maintaining oppression and the aura of powerlessness after their attack on July 26th, 1953. As Castro returned from Mexico to gain support in the Sierra Maestra, he became a symbol for empowerment that embodied ever-growing Cuban Nationalism. The hope he offered people across Cuba for independence and a better future made it seem as though the multi-century stress of powerlessness appear as though it could finally be expunged, securing Castro's victory over the Batista regime and the United States' hold on the country.
Settling into a socialist Dictatorship came with its own challenges, especially with the embargos placed soon after the United States was defeated. However, Cuban Nationalism and empowerment has been largely encouraged on paper, even if not reflected in some anti-capitalist practices. In cases of extreme powerlessness since the Revolution, Cubans have continued to empower themselves, often through waves of emigration. Since Fidel Castro's passing in 2016, his brother has lifted some restrictions and created some opportunities for privatized markets. This is a hopeful step toward Cuban empowerment on an individual level, pairing nicely with their hard-earned National autonomy.
Questions:
How have different communities in the United States been made to feel a similar sense of powerlessness or empowerment? What changes have been made because of this?
What would be different today if Cubans had been given opportunities for empowerment during the Spanish occupation?
Works Cited:
Culture of Cuba: History, People, Society, Beliefs, and more... (n.d.). Retrieved December 29, 2022, from everyculture.com.
Kästle, K. (n.d.). History of Cuba. History of Cuba - Nations Online Project. Retrieved December 29, 2022, from https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Cuba-history.htm
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ReplyDeleteHello! You pose a very interesting question. "What would be different today if Cubans had been given opportunities for empowerment during the Spanish occupation?" Because if the Cuban people had it "good" under the Spanish then they might not have rebelled against them. If Cuba never rebelled, then the Spanish America War might have never happened. Causing a change in history. Like the relations between Cuba and the US might not as bad as they are today, and Castro might have never came to power.
ReplyDeleteHi Clair,
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that most Cubans had a lot to gain and little to lose when entering the revolution, as it was a battle that would determine their level of independence as well as define the future of their children's lives. I believe that if the revolution never happened, and if Cubans were given opportunities for empowerment, it still would not be enough to keep things under control. With so much censorship and governmental influence, I don't believe the people of Cuba would be able to keep their mouths shut forever. If they are given immense amounts of freedom, similarly to what we see in the U.S., then maybe that would be a different story.
When posed with the question of "What would be different today if Cubans had been given opportunities for empowerment during the Spanish occupation?" One is met with an image of what modern day Cuba would have potentially resembled if they had gained independence sooner or if they stayed under the rule of Spain. Would it look anything like it does today?
ReplyDelete